The State Of A City

January 31, 1999|By LISA J. HURIASH Staff Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE — Mayor Jim Naugle's vision of the city is one that always follows up with crime victims, shares responsibility for educating children and adults, and offers residents a wide range of transportation alternatives to reduce traffic.

In his annual State of the City address on Monday, Naugle detailed the missions that he is setting for the city.

Naugle said he will donate a copy of his speech to a local television station that is burying a time capsule. When the time capsule is opened in 50 years, he said he hopes the city will have lived up to the challenges of the next millennium.

"Fifty years from now when they] open the time capsule, how will we be judged?" he asked. "Will Fort Lauderdale be a great place to live?"

Among his concerns:

Education: The city is planning to embark on a tutoring program that will give adults and children individual attention. "We can't be great cities without great schools," he said.

The city also is considering entering into private partnerships, particularly with faith-based organizations, to offer after-school programs at city parks for youth.

Technology: Naugle encouraged all residents to get hooked up to the Internet. "Every citizen can be connected to every library in the world," he said.

The city is currently talking about installing computers with Internet access in its low-income public housing, Naugle said.

"We don't want anybody to be behind," he said. "If you're not connected, get connected."

Water: Because of the high demand for water, Naugle suggested alternative sources of water -- even if it means a greater financial expense -- to save natural resources.

"It was short, sweet and to the point," said Rita Jackson, a member of the city's Nuisance Abatement Board. "Fifty years from now, I do believe the younger kids will continue on with what our commission and our mayor have done."